A man accused of murder later told police that he reacted after being confronted with a knife, a jury at Lincoln Crown Court heard this afternoon (Friday).

James Adam said during a series of police interviews that Jamie Rudd attacked him from behind and then pinned him to the ground during an incident in Victoria Road, Mablethorpe, on August Bank Holiday Monday last year.

Det Con Beth Wilmot, giving evidence on the fourth day of the trial, said that Adam said the incident happened after he asked for a chat with Mr Rudd’s partner Kirsty Owens over an alleged derogatory remark Ms Owens had made earlier.

Adam, she said, told her that Mr Rudd lifted his top up and pulled out a knife.

Adam said: “He was holding it down his side. The end of the blade was pointing towards me.

“I punched him with my left hand. He started to walk away.”

Det Con Wilmot said that Adam told her that Mr Rudd then struck him from behind and got on top of him after he fell to the ground.

Adam, she said, told her: “His weight was on my chest. I had one of my arms free.

“I felt something in my pocket. I took it out and opened it. I thought I struck his leg.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. This was not supposed to happen.”

The jury heard that Mr Rudd bled to death in the street after he was stabbed by a blow which entered his heart.

James Adam, 46, of Victoria Road, Mablethorpe, denies the murder of Jamie Rudd on August 28 last year and a second charge of possessing an offensive weapon on the same date.